November 2014 Mystery Tool D

A. Rim tool, used to remove or mount a tire on a split rim, typical in the 1920s and early 1930s. Identified by Gailey Henderson; Ronnie Kitts, Blacksburg, Virginia; Stephen Clemens, Mazeppa, Minnesota; Otis G. Madden, Louisiana, Missouri; Art Palmer, Brainard, Nebraska; Donald W. Koll, Ogilvie, Minnesota; Buck and Cathy Evans; Gary Studebaker; and Milo Harpstead. “Each leg of the tripod has a small hook that is hooked over the edge of the rim about equal distance apart,” Milo says. “When the crank is turned to the right, the circumference of the rim is reduced by overlapping the ends of the rim so that the tire can be removed. To put a tire back on the rim, the process is reversed and the ends of the rim are locked together. The type of wheel that had this type of rim was a wooden-spoke wheel called an artillery wheel. It was the most common type of wheel in the 1920s. I have a 1924 Buick Roadster and a 1928 Chevy 1-ton truck that have this type of wheel.” See patent 1,704,628. Photo submitted by Becky Neuman, Syracuse, New York.